Cigarette pack dispensing carton



Aug. 27, 1963 A. e. PRICE CIGARETTE PACK DISPENSING CARTON Filed Aug. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Alfred 6. Price FIG. 6

ATTORNEY ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1963 A. G-,PRICE CIGARETTE PACK DISPENSING CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1961 A/fred 6. Pr/ce United States Patent f 3,101,884 CIGARETTE PACK DISPENSING CARTON Alfred G. Price, Sturgis, S. Dak.

I (Fingal, N. Dalr.) Filed Aug. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 131,534 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to a pack dispensing carton and.

has for an object to provide an improved carton for holding a number of individual packages or packs, and for readily dispensing the packs one at a time therefrom, with an easily openable and reclosable closure means for the dispensing opening on the carton.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pack dispensing carton especially intended for cigarette packages or packs, wherein the carton will be of the usual conventional size, but which, instead of having the usual separable lid or cover telescopic thereover, will instead have a dispensing opening and a reclosable closure flap for the opening which can be readily opened so as to dispense a single pack at a time from the carton and be readily closable to keep the carton closed until such time as it is desired to dispense an additional pack therefrom.

With the conventional cigarette pack carton, it is necessary to completely open the carton by separating the cover therefrom to take out a pack, and in so doing, very often more than a single pack will spill therefrom, and it is diflicult to keep the cover thereon once it has been opened, particularly when traveling by automobile or otherwise, and carrying a carton in convenient position for removing a pack therefrom as desired from time to time.

With this invention, the closure flap in the-carton may be easily opened with one hand, and a pack easily removed from the carton with one hand, and then the closure flap may then be operated to close the opening with the same one hand, without much danger of any additional packs spilling therefrom, even though the other hand of the operator may be occupied allthe time.

With this invention, the operator may initially open the carton closure flap with a single hand, then eject a single pack therefrom and then put the closure flap back in closing position and squeeze the carton to cause the flap to remain in closed position until the next time it is desired to remove a cigarette pack from the carton.

With the above and related objects in View, this invention consists in the details of construction and com-bination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of'a cigarette pack carton with this invention applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention, on a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a partly fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the closure flap in the position before it has initially been opened.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the carton dispenser in dispensing position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the closure flap in reol'osed position after it has been initially opened.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, of a modified form having a supplementary lip.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 8-8 of FIG. 3, showing the flap in closed position.

FIG. 9- is a fragmentary sectional view on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the flap partly initially open.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged view, similar to FIG. 10 but having a slightly dilferent supplementary lip.

3,101,884 Patented Aug. 27, 1963 There is shown at 10 a carton of parallelepiped shape of a size to hold a number of individual merchandise packages such as cigarette packs 12, this carton 10 being of the conventional size when used for cigarette packs for holding ten individual cigarette packs 12 in two superposed rows of five each, the inside dimensions of the carton It) being such in relation to the dimensions of the packs 12 that at least the packs in the bottom row thereof will be readily slidable as soon as a single pack has been removed therefrom.

As here shown, the carton 10 may be formed of an integral piece of sheet cardboard folded over to provide a parallelepiped shape, the top wall 14-: thereof having a depending ledge 16 secured inside and. along the top of a carton side Wall 18, the depending ledge 16 being somewhat shorter than the thickness of the cigarette pack 12 therein, so that the lower pack 12 is more loosely held in the carton 10, and hence, more readily slidable therein, as

shown in FIG. 4. The other side Wall 20' of'the carton 10 has the dispensing means of this invention generally shown at 22 provided therein, the end walls 24. and 25 of the carton being formedin any conventional manner, as by overlapping projecting or extending ledges on the top wall 14 and bottom wall 26 of the carton 10, such pro-. jectingor extending ledges being shown at 28 and 30 in FIG. 5. The cartonv pack dispensing means 22 of this invention is provided in the side wall 20 adjacent one end wall 24, as clearly shown in FIG. 1. This dispensing means 22 includes a closure flap 32 formed'in the side wall 20 adjacent the edge of the end wall 24 and theedge of the bottom 26 by providin'gtwo vertically extended perforating or tear lines 34 and 36, and a slit line 38- separating the top edge 40 from the side wall edge 42. It will be understood that no material is removed between the side Wall edge 42 and the closure flap edge 40it is merely a complete clean cuttherethrough along this line.

An L-shaped flange 44 is secured to the outer sideof the closure flap 32 and extends therefrom over the slit edge 4% and over the one vertical tear. line 36 that is remote from the adjacent side wall 24.

Securement means such as glue, staples,- stitching or the like for holding the closure flange 44 to the closure flap edge 40 stops slightly short of the edge 40 and thus the closure flange 44 and the closure flap edge 40 provide the jaws of a mouth or jaw space 46 in which the side wall edge 42 may extend and be held when the closure flap 32 is in reclosed position. Secured to the outside of the L-shaped flange 44 is a pull tab 48, the pull tab 48 having an end 50 extending beyond the upper edge of the flange 44 so as to be readily engaged between ones fingers.

In operation, the carton 10 of cigarettes or other parallelepiped shaped packages will be sold or delivered to the consumer with the-closure means in the initial position shown in FIG. 3, that is, with the tear lines 34 and 36 as yet. untorn. Then, when the consumer wants to remove a pack 12 from the carton 10, he can merely grasp the pull tab 48 at its projecting or extending end 50 so as to pull the the side wall edge 42 and then stick his fingernail or finger down through the gap thus formed and tear the closure flap 32 to open position along both tear lines 34* and 36, torn bottom hinging edge 52. The opening thus provided is of a size that a cigarette pack 12 will readily slide therethrough, which may be assisted if necessary,

upper slit edge 40 away from.

hinging the flap to open position about its un-- and then, when one hinged back to closed position and squeezed inwardly a slight amount, thereby opening the gap or jaw 46 between the closure flap edge 40 and the inner wall of the flange 44 and then simultaneously squeezing the top wall 14 down toward the bottom wall 26, thereby causing the side wall edge 42 to enter this jaw and be frictionally held therein, holding the closure flap 32 in closed position.

When the next pack is to be removed, it is only necessary to grasp the pull tab end 50 and hinge the closure flap 32 again to open position to remove the subsequent pack 12 which may be brought into position by suitably tapping or shaking the carton in the right direction, and then, it may be reclosed again in the same manner.

Obviously, when necessary this procedure can be performed by a single hand if the other hand of the consumer is occupied at the time. Of course, the carton and packs of this invention may contain other merchandise than cigarettes, although this invention is particularly intended for use with cigarette packs, but it is equally suitable with any other types of cartons and packs that correspond in configuration.

The forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 7l0 inclusive, and in FIG. 11, include all the details of the form shown in FIGS. 1-6 inclusive, but each of the two modified forms have a supplementary lip added to the closure flap edge 40, and as a result, although it is slightly more expensive to make, it is also more positive in operation. Due to the identity of details, the same reference numerals are applicable to the same details, except as to closure flap slit edge 40, which is here referred to as 40' due to its slightly different function.

In FIGS. 1-6 inclusive, the closure flap edge 48 provides the function of directly holding the flap closed against the inside of side wall edge 42.

In FIGS. 7-10, a lip 60 is fixed secured to the inner side of closure flap 32 and extends slightly above the edge 40. The lip is of any suitable material, such as cardboard, inexpensive plastic of suitable composition, or metal, and is secured in any suitable manner as by glue, stapling or any other manner. The lip 6% is substantially shorter than the lengh of the closure flap slit edge 49', both in the interest of economy and of better and easier operation.

In FIG. 11, a lip 70 is provided, and is U-shaped and extendsover both surfaces of the closure flap 32 beyond the edge 40', thus making it easier to fasten it more securely to the closure flap 32. When of thin metal, it may be crimped inwardly on both sides to form a very inexpensive securement means.

In operation, as to both lips 60 and 70, the carton lltl as delivered to the customer has the lip 64} or 70 extending up the inner side of wall 20 above the side wal edge 42 and above the slit between side wall edge 42 and closure flap edge 40, with the tear lines 34 and 36 still intact.

When the consumer opens it for the first time, operating it the same as the first form, he merely pulls flap St) to hinge it down to the position the same as shown in FIG. 4, tearing the tear lines 34 and 36.

To close the opening, he lifts it back to closed position, pushing the lip 60 or 70 back under and beyond the side wall edge 42, bowing the top 14 upwardly a very slight amount or bending in the side wall a slight amount, probably without necessarily being aware of this bowing action, to snap the lip 60 or 79 to closed position. To reopen, he pulls tab 48 downwardly again. Due to the upward projection of lips 60 and 70, these forms of closure flaps are less likely to accidentally open, and hence are more desirable, although obviously more expensive than the same invention without either of these lips.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A pack dispensing carton comprising an elongate parallelepiped carton in combination with a multiplicity of parallelepiped merchandise packs, the inside transverse Width of said carton between two opposite parallel side walls being slightly greater than one dimension of said packs whereby said packs may snugly yet slidably fit therein, a pack dispensing means in said carton, said dispensing means comprising a rectangular dispensing opening in one of said carton side Walls, said opening having its two dimensions slightly greater than the other two dimensions of said packs to permit one pack :at a time to pass therethrou-gh, and reclosable closure means for said dispensing opening comprising a rectangular closure flap integrally formed from said one side wall, said flap being permanently hinged at one edge to said side wall and separable from said side wall all along its other three edges, a pull flange secured on the outer side of said flapcover and extending over the side wall edge parallel to said hinge edge, and securement means holding said flange and closure flap together, said securement means stopping short of said closure flap edge and the edge of said flange providing unsecured areas adjacent said closure flap edge and said flange edge, said unsecured areas adjacent said flange edge and said flap edge providing a mouth having jaws frictionally holding said side wall edge in said unsecured areas therebetween when said closure flap is moved to reclosed position.

2. A cigarette pack dispensing carton comprising an elongate parallelepiped carton in combination with a multiplicity of parallelepiped cigarette packs, the inside transverse width of said carton between two opposite parallel side walls being slightly greater than one dimension of said cigarette packs whereby said cigarette packs may snugly yet slidably fit therein, a cigarette pack dispensing means in said carton, said dispensing means comprising a rectangular dispensing opening in one of said carton side walls, said opening having its two dimensions slight- 1y greater than the other two dimensions of said cigarette packs to permit one cigarette pack at a time to pass therethrough, and reclosable closure means for said dispensing opening comprising a rectangular closure flap integrally formed from said one side wall, said flap being permanently hinged at one edge to said side wall separable from said side wall all along its other three edges, a flange secured on the outer side of said flap cover, securement means holding said flange and closure flap together, said securement means stopping short of said closure flap edge and the extending edge of said flange providing unsecured areas adjacent said closure flap edge and said flange edge, said unsecured areas adjacent said closure flap edge and said flange edge providing a mouth having jaws trictionally holding said side wall edge in said unsecured areas therebetwecn when said closure flap is moved to reclosed position, said flange extending over the edge parallel to said hinge edge, a pull tab secured to said flange extending beyond the extending edge thereof, the two opposite edges adjacent said hinged edge being initially secured to said side wall by tear line connections, the edge parallel to said hinge edge being slit away from said side wall, said dispensing opening being located closely adjacent one end wall of said carton, said flange also extending over the initially connected tear line edge more remote from said one end wall.

3. The carton combination of claim 2, and a closure lip extending upwardly from said closure flap edge parallel to said hinge edge and arranged to extend inwardly of said side wall edge lftl'ld said side wall to assist in retaining said flap in closed position.

4. The carton combination of claim 3, said lip being substantially shorter in length than said closure flap edge.

5. The carton combination of claim 3, said lip being secured on the inner side of said closure flap.

5 6. The carton combination of claim 3, said lip being 2,820,585 U-shaped and secured on both sides of said closure flap. 2,979,249

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 232 53 2,429,191 Olsen Oct. 14, 1947 1,103,502 1 2,615,610 White Oct. 28, 1952 755,009 2,771,988 Sweeney Nov. 27, 1956 615,973

6 Nerenberg et a1 Ian. 21, 1958 Gill Apr. 11, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 23, 1930 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1953 France May 25, 1955 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1956 Canada Mar. 7, 1961 

2. A CIGARETTE PACK DISPENSING CARTON COMPRISING AN ELONGATE PARALLELEPIPED CARTON IN COMBINATION WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF PARALLELEPIPED CIGARETTE PACKS, THE INSIDE TRANSVERSE WIDTH OF SAID CARTON BETWEEN TWO OPPOSITE PARALLEL SIDE WALLS BEING SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN ONE DIMENSION OF SAID CIGARETTE PACKS WHEREBY SAID CIGARETTE PACKS MAY SNUGLY YET SLIDABLY FIT THEREIN, A CIGARETTE PACK DISPENSING MEANS IN SAID CARTON, SAID DISPENSING MEANS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR DISPENSING OPENING IN ONE OF SAID CARTON SIDE WALLS, SAID OPENING HAVING ITS TWO DIMENSIONS SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE OTHER TWO DIMENSIONS OF SAID CIGARETTE PACKS TO PERMIT ONE CIGARETTE PACK AT A TIME TO PASS THERETHOUGH, AND RECLOSABLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR SAID DISPENSING OPENING COMPRISING A RECTANGLAR CLOSURE FLAP INTERGRALLY FORMED FROM SAID ONE SIDE WALL, SAID FLAP BEING PERMANENTLY HINGED AT ONE EDGE TO SAID SIDE WALL SEPARABLE FROM SAID SIDE WALL ALL ALONG ITS OTHER THREE EDGES, A FLANGE SECURED ON THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID FLAP COVER, SECUREMENT MEANS HOLDING SAID FLANGE AND CLOSURE FLAP TOGETHER, SAID SECUREMENT MEANS STOPPING SHORT OF SAID CLOSURE FLAP EDGE AND THE EXTENDING EDGE OF SAID FLANGE PROVIDING UNSECURED AREAS ADJACENT SAID CLOSURE FLAP EDGE AND SAID FLANGE EDGE, SAID UNSECURED AREAS ADJACENT SAID CLOSURE FLAP EDGE AND SAID FLANGE EDGE PROVIDING A MOUTH HAVING JAWS FRICTIONALLY HOLDING SAID SIDE WALL EDGE IN SAID UNSECURED AREAS THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAID CLOSURE FLAP IS MOVED TO RECLOSED POSITION, SAID FLANGE EXTENDING OVER THE EDGE PARALLEL TO SAID HINGE EDGE, A PULL TAB SECURED TO SAID FLANGE EXTENDING BEYOND THE EXTENDING EDGE THEREOF,, THE TWO OPPOSITE EDGES ADJACENT SAID HINGED EDGE BEING INITIALLY SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALL BY TEAR LINE CONNECTIONS, THE EDGE PARALLEL TO SAID HINGE EDGE BEING SLIT AWAY FROM SAID SIDE WALL, SAID DISPENSING OPENING BEING LOCATED CLOSELY ADJACENT ONE END WALL OF SAID CARTON, SAID FLANGE ALSO EXTENDING OVER THE INITIALLY CONNECTED TEAR LINE EDGE MORE REMOTE FROM SAID ONE END WALL. 